The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c21.21

v1.c21.21

But not long after he removed his court to Penukonda, the capital of his two predecessors, whence he might rule over the Empire. "When the throne of Bijanagar", says the anonymous chronicler of Golkonda; "devolved on Venkatapati, it appears that that prince...removed his seat of Government to the fort of Penukonda" 4. Accordingly his grant of the year 1587 states that he 'established his throne in Suragiri (Penukonda)' 5. This fact must have occurred in 1585, for in two inscriptions of this year Venkata already appears as 'ruling in Penukonda' 6; and in 1589 he is shown 'seated on the throne of the Empire in Suragiri (Penukonda)' 7. How long this period of rule from Penukonda lasted is not yet ascertained, because the cause of Venkata's retreat to Chandragiri is misplaced by Ferishta; hence its date cannot be realized. Sewell points to the year 1592 as the date of Venkata's return to the Tamil country 8. As a matter of fact, Venkata appears as 'ruling on the jewelled throne at Penukonda' in several inscriptions of the years 1593 ¹, 1599 ², 1603 ³, 1605 ⁴, 1608 ⁵, 1609 ⁶ 1610 ⁷, and 1612 ⁸. We know for certain that during several of these years, Venkata was actually ruling from Chandragiri; this would mean that either his subjects were not aware of the change of the capital, or the old capital of Tirumala and Ranga was mentioned out of respect, as Vijayanagara itself is sometimes occasionally mentioned.